St. Landry democrat., 1887-07-28
A GREAT ENTERPRISE.
Science Allied With Love Makes a
Useful Circuit"

John Mills, the hero of this sketch,
was railroad engineer, and had been
for long time in the company's en-
ploy. When the new engine 49,
was completed and placed on the road,
John was given charge of it, and he
evinced a natural pride in his prefer
ment. At one of the stations there
was young girl, a Geographic ope-
rator, between whom and the engineer
there had sprung up a warm attach
ment, and whenever 1897 came along
Kate generally managed to be at the
door and exchange signals with her
lover. One day the train was detained
at the station, and the locomotive de-
tached and sent up the road to do some
additional work, and Kate went along
for ride. AS she listened to the sharp,
shrill notes of the whistle, it occurred
to her that she might teach John to
sound her name in the Morse tele-
graphic characters, so that she could
distinguish his signal from that of the
other engines, whenever his train APP
preached. The plan worked to charm,
and far and near the whistle shreked
Kate, until one day, as the operator
stepped upon the platform, she over
heard conversation between two
young men, and learned that
they understood the signal and were
Iaughingly wondering who Kate
could be. Their means of communica-
ton having been discovered, they were
obliged to discontinue it. In the mean
time Kate had, by means of the tele-
graph, made the acquaintance of
young lady in distant city, but whom
she had never seen, and to her she had
made known the fact that that secret
lad been discovered. Then her friend
ssggested a plan as brilliant as it was
ingenious. 1t was simply to arrange
means of Geographic communication
between the approaching train and the
station, SO as to ring a bell hidden
away in the closet in Hates office, en-
CINE ''59' being the only one provided
with means of completing the circuit,
which was done by laying the
poker upon the tender brake
so as to touch the wire in passing.
Kate found an opportunity to acquaint
John with the proposed plan, and in
the meantime had found an abandoned
wire which ran for a long distance close
by the track, and which she proposed
to use for carrying out her purpose.
Thanksgiving Day came soon after, and
John fortunately having holiday, he
and Kate went bravely to work, and
before the day had ended the task was
complete success. The dramatic
finale of their little episode is told in
the following:
1t was singular how absent-minded
and inattentive the operator was on
the day that the great scientific enter
prise was finished. No wonder
she was disturbed. Would the new
line workP Would her little battery
be strong enough for such great cir
cult? Would John be able to close it?
The people began to assemble for the
train. The clock pointed to the hour
tor its arrival.
Suddenly, with startling distinctness,
the bell rang clear and loud in the
echoing room. With cry of delight
she put on her dainty hat and ran in
haste out upon the platform. The whis-
tie broke loud and clear on the cool,
crisp air, and ''59' appeared round the
curve in the woods. The splendid
monster slid swiftly up to her feet and
paused.
Perfect, John! Perfect! 1t works
to charm"
With a spring she reached the cab,
and sat down on the fireman's seat.
BLESSED if could tell what he was
going to do" said the fireman. stHe
told me about it, Awful bright idea!
You see, he laid the poker on the